Bohol Provides P5.3-M Aid to Workers Affected by Whale Shark Ban
Over 500 workers displaced by the suspension of whale shark watching operations in Bohol have received a combined total of P5.3 million in financial assistance from the provincial government. This relief aims to ease the economic impact on those affected by the ban.
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado personally led the distribution of cash aid to 532 beneficiaries from the towns of Alburquerque, Dauis, and Lila during a ceremony at the Capitol on June 16. Each recipient was granted P10,000 to support their livelihood during this challenging period.
Government Response to Economic Impact
The Provincial Social Work and Development Office facilitated the aid distribution as part of the government’s efforts to address the financial hardships following the suspension of whale shark interactions earlier this year. This assistance complements earlier support extended through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program in April.
Expressing empathy for those affected, Governor Aumentado emphasized the province’s commitment to environmental laws. “We understand your hardship following the halt in whale shark feeding. But we cannot ignore our responsibility to uphold the law and protect the environment,” he said in Cebuano.
Ensuring Compliance and Marine Protection
The governor clarified that whale shark interaction activities may resume in the future, provided operators fully comply with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) standards. To support long-term marine conservation, the provincial government has taken significant steps.
These include establishing a dedicated Task Force on Wildlife Conservation and partnering with Balyena.Org to enhance marine mammal protection in the Bohol Sea. Earlier this year, Aumentado issued Executive Order No. 10, series of 2025, which ordered the indefinite suspension of whale shark tourism in Alburquerque, Dauis, and Lila.
Reasons Behind the Suspension
The suspension followed an investigation by an inter-agency team that uncovered illegal feeding practices, particularly the use of krill to lure whale sharks, and violations related to permits. This was found to contravene Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-008 and a Joint Memorandum Circular issued by the Department of Tourism, DENR, Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior and Local Government in 2020.
The task force also reported a strong foul odor caused by krill in the waters and noted the absence of permits from key agencies like the DENR and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Environmental advocates have long criticized feeding and close interactions with whale sharks, arguing they harm marine ecosystems and constitute “fake tourism,” sources said.
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